Eliaquim Mangala announces retirement at 35 | OneFootball

Eliaquim Mangala has retired at 35, drawing a line under a career that included two spells with Valencia and a final stint with Oriente Petrolero.

The player said in a post that he had lived more than he imagined, suffering injuries but also winning titles, playing in several countries, learning languages and feeling fortunate.

Mangala emerged at Standard Liège and around 2011 was among Europe’s most promising centre-backs, briefly sharing a dressing room with Michy Batshuayi. Valencia showed interest, but Porto moved first, then City came in.

Signed by Manchester City in 2014 for almost 54 million euros, he briefly became the most expensive defender in history. Later, injuries blunted stints at Valencia, Everton and AS Saint-Étienne.

He left Mestalla in summer 2021 and remained unattached until winter, when Saint-Étienne recruited him to the end of the season. When that short deal expired, no move followed and early retirement seemed likely.

A year on, in summer 2023, Estoril called. His form tailed off and he waited through last summer for a final offer. Six months later, he accepted one last opportunity in Bolivia.

His Valencia ties totalled 54 appearances across three seasons after an initial loan then a free transfer, with injuries limiting his impact.

Source: Superdeporte